Patentable/Patents/US-9117681
US-9117681

Silicon carbide semiconductor element, method of manufacturing the same, and silicon carbide device

PublishedAugust 25, 2015
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A silicon carbide semiconductor element and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in which a low contact resistance is attained between an electrode film and a wiring conductor element, and the wiring conductor element is hardly detached from the electrode film. In the method, a nickel film and a nickel oxide film are laminated in this order on a surface of an n-type silicon carbide substrate or an n-type silicon carbide region of a silicon carbide substrate, followed by a heat treatment under a non-oxidizing condition. The heat treatment transforms a portion of the nickel film into a nickel silicide film. Then, the nickel oxide film is removed with hydrochloric acid solution, and subsequently, a nickel aluminum film and an aluminum film are laminated in this order on a surface of the nickel silicide film.

Patent Claims
4 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A silicon carbide semiconductor element comprising: an n-type silicon carbide substrate or a silicon carbide substrate having an n-type silicon carbide region in a surface region thereof; a nickel silicide film formed directly on a surface of the n-type silicon carbide substrate or directly on a surface of the n-type silicon carbide region of a silicon carbide substrate; a nickel aluminum film having a thickness in a range of 5 nm to 20 nm formed on the nickel silicide film and having a composition of 50% nickel and 50% aluminum in order to enhance adhesiveness between the nickel silicide film and the aluminum film and to prevent the resistance of the nickel aluminum film from rising; and an aluminum film having a thickness in a range of 2 μm to 4 μm formed on a surface of the nickel aluminum film the nickel silicide film being formed by heat treatment of a nickel film on the n-type silicon carbide substrate or the silicon carbide substrate having an n-type silicon carbide region, the nickel silicide film having a thickness in a range of 0.05 μm to 4 μm.

2

2. A silicon carbide device comprising the silicon carbide semiconductor element defined by claim 1 , wherein the nickel silicide, nickel aluminum film and aluminum film constitute an ohmic electrode.

3

3. A silicon carbide semiconductor element comprising: an n-type silicon carbide substrate or a silicon carbide substrate having an n-type silicon carbide region in a surface region thereof; a nickel silicide film formed directly on a surface of the n-type silicon carbide substrate or directly on a surface of the n-type silicon carbide region of a silicon carbide substrate; a nickel aluminum film having a thickness in a range of 5 nm to 20 nm formed on the nickel silicide film, without the presence of carbon precipitates between the nickel silicide film and the nickel aluminum film; and an aluminum film having a thickness in a range of 2 μm to 4 μm formed on a surface of the nickel aluminum film the nickel silicide film being formed by heat treatment of a nickel film on the n-type silicon carbide substrate or the silicon carbide substrate having an n-type silicon carbide region, the nickel silicide film having a thickness in a range of 0.05 μm to 4 μm.

4

4. A silicon carbide device comprising the silicon carbide semiconductor element defined by claim 3 , wherein the nickel silicide, nickel aluminum film and aluminum film constitute an ohmic electrode.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

January 10, 2012

Publication Date

August 25, 2015

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